Stem-winding mechanism for watches



(Model.)

D. D. PALMER.

STEM WINDING MEGHANISM FOR WATCHES.

No. 272,310. l Patented Feb. 13,1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT STEM-WINDING MECHANiSiVI FOR NVATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,310, dated February 13, 1383.

(Model To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, DoLPHAs D. PALMER, of Waltham, county ot' Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvenient in Watches, ot'which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specilication.

My invention relates to improvements in, and has for its object to simplify, the stein winding and setting mechanism. l have devised and employ a crown-gear having a movable fulcruin, which, when held in its normal condition,causes the toothed periphery ofthe crowngear thereon to engage the usual winding-gear on the spindle, which winds the usual drivingspring. When it is desired to set the hands the fulcrum of the crown-gear is shifted so as to disengage the toothed periphery of the crown-gear from the said winding-gear andengage it with the first gear ol' the setting-train. As herein shown, I have provided the rotating longitudinally-movable stem with a cam or shoulder, which I have made available as the means for moving the fulcruin ofthe crowngear in one direction, a spring moving it in the other direction.

' Figure l represents one side ot' the centerplate of a watch-movement; Fig. 2, a view of the opposite side of the said plate, with the usual spring-barrel broken away at one side and the plate broken away near one edge;

Fig. 3, a section of the shield and movable ful` crum for the ciown-gear. Fi. 4 is an inner side view ot' the shield. FiO. 5 is a view oi'l one side of the movable fulcruni with the crown-gear thereon; Fig. 6, a view ofthe un# der side ot' the parts shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a section ofthe winding-stem and its bevelpinion.

The center plate, a, is that which is fitted into the central part ot' the watch-frame and holds on one or the other ot' its sides the dit'- i'erent movable parts.

The winding-stem a', having a milled head, a2, has its shank heldin the bearing a3 by the end of a screw, a4, which enters an annular groove in the said shank, the said groove being enough wider than the point orend ofthe said screw to permit the stem to be moved longitudinally for a little distance, as well as to be rotated. The inner end of 'this stem a.

is squared, as shown, to lit a square opening at the center of the bevelpinion a5, the periphery of which at one side is placed loosely in a notch in the center plate, while stein of the said pinion is extended into the bearing as. (See Fig. 7.) lliepinion is tree to turn with the stem a', but cannot move with the said stein longitudinally.

The usual barrel, b, within which is placed the driving-spring, (not shown,) is broken away in Fig. 2 to show the windinggear b below it, the said winding-gear being secured to the shaft b2, with which will be connected the usual driving-spring ofthe watch mechanism. This winding-gear is prevented from rotating in the wrong direction b v means ofthe detent b3, pivoted at b*I in a recess in plate c, and acted upon by a spiral spring, L, placed in a pocket or hole drilled into the edge ofthe center plate, as in Fig. 2.

Prior to myinvention this detent has always been acted upon by a long flat spring, which was exposed, and was very expensive as compared with the small spiral spring, which is eiectually held against damage or loss in the said pocket, the pocket and spring being much cheaper than the usual hat spring, and being' easier and quicker to apply.

The gear c on stud c is the tirst gear ofthe setting-trani. Itwill in practice engage another gear on the stud c2, which will, iu the usual manner, turn the setting-train to move the hands of the watch, the most ot the said settingtrain being omitted because not of my invention.

The under side of the bearing as, which holds the shank ot' the bevel-pinion a5 and end of stem a', has secured to it by screw 2 (see Fig. l) a small shield, d, which, at its inner side, (see Fic. 4,) is chambered at 4 to receive the movable fulcrum d', having a projecting portion, d2, provided with an eye, 5, (sec Figs. 5 and 6,) which is placed on an annular projection, d3, forming part ot' the shield d. The shield d, with its fulcrum d and crown-gear, is fitted in the recess c7, Fig. T, the screw 2, Fig. l, serving to hold the same in place by entering the block a6. The central portion of this fulorum and the flange about it receives the crown-gear e, herein made as an annulns having peripheral and side teeth.

IOO

The chamber 4 in the. shield is enough larger than the. t'nloinm d to allow the same to be. moved therein for a short distance laterally. or in an arc of a circle about the projection d3. The movable fulcrum d has lixed to and projectine` from one side of ita pin or stud, 3, (see Fig'. 5,) which is extended through an kopening in the center-plate a, as in Fig. 2, so asto be. struck bythe shoulderorcam-projection S ofthe stem a. This stem a is grooved annnlarly to produce the shoulder or cam S, and a springj", held by screw f', acts against this stud 3 to keep the same normally pressed toward the axis ot' the stem a'. Then the stem a is pushed in, which is its normal position, the stud 3 rests in 'the annular `groove ot' the. stem, as in Fig. 2, and the peripheral teeth of the crowirggear engage the teeth of the winding-gear Zi', ready to wind the driving-spring ot' the watch.

When it is desired to move the hands to set. 'the watch, or to move the setting-train of gearing,it is necessary only` to pull the stem out, as indicated bydotted lines, Fig. 1,when the shoulder 8 acts on the stud 3, forces it aside, and with it the lulcrum d', which causes it to place the peripherical teeth of the crown-gear into engagement with the rst gear, c, ot' the set-tingtrain, when rotation ot' the stem u. will cause the bevel-pinion a5, always in engagement with the face or side teeth ot' the crown-gear e, to turn the said crown-gear, and the latter to turn the gear o. By means ot the shoulder on the stem ct and the spriugf, the fulcrum d' may be moved sufficiently far in either direction` to enable the crown-gear to be thrown at will into engagement with and so as to rotate either the gear b' to wind the. watch or the gear c to set the watch.

In this my invention I malte one and the same gearn-nainely,the crown-gear-thecommon motor for the winding` and setting;` meehanisms, thus avoiding, as heretofore, the employment of two separate gears to engage and move the said mechanisms, and also avoiding complicated levers and springs to hold thc said gears.

Parts not herein shown will be as common in other watches.

The crown-gear in Fig. l is shown by dotted lines as in engagement with the gear c ot' the settingtrain, as will be the case when the stem et is pulled out, as shown by dotted lines.

The end ot' the part d3 of the shield rests directly against the block a6, so that the eyed part d2 of the movable t'ulcrutn d is free to be easily moved by the stem a'.

I claim- 1. The gear b', forming;` part ol' the winding` mechanism, and the gear c, forming` part of the setting train or mechanism, combined with the movable fulcrum and the crown-gear carried by and moving with said i'ulcrum, whereby, by change of position ot the said fulcrum, the said crown-gear may be made to engage the gear b or the gear c to wind or to set the watch, respectively, as desired, substantially as described.

2. The stem a', squared at. its end and having' its bearings secured to the center plate, a, and the beveled pinion a5, in which the sud stem may slide longitudinally, combined with the crown-gear and movable iulcrum d', sub stantially as and lor the purpose set forth.

3. The longitndinally-movable stem ct, provided with shoulder 8, thepinion a5, and erown- `egear, combined with the movable. lulcrnm to support the crown-gear, and the stud 3 thereon, acted upon by the said shoulder, to operate substantially as described.

4. rlhe longitudinallymovable stem a, provided with the shoulder S, the spring j", the pinion 1.5, and the t'ulcrum and its stud 3, combined. with the gear b', gear o, and crown-gear arranged between the said gear b' and gear c, to engage and turn either one, as may be desired, substantially as described.

5. The gear b of the winding; mechanism, and its deteut b3, combined with the spiral spring,r binclosed in a pocket oropening made in the center plate, all substantially as shown and described.

6. The shield provided with portion d, the bearing-block a", with which the said shield is connected by screw, and movable t'ulcrum provided with a projecting" portion, d2, having' an eye to fit theportion d3, combined with the crown-gear and stem a', substantiall,v as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilication in the presence ot two subscribing,` witnesses.

DOLPHAS D. PALMER.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, B. J. N 

